😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $1,146 in Serpukhov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $1,791 in Serpukhov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $2,437 in Serpukhov.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 106% more expensive than Serpukhov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Serpukhov is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.01
$12.77₽971
38.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.0
$57.1₽4,345
19.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96€11.88
$6.48₽493
115.43%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$3.29₽250
-16.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.35
$1.39₽106
98.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.67
$0.66₽50.5
198.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.85
$1.42₽108
219.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.85
$4.37₽332
3.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.05
$1.32₽101
-6.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.73
$0.84₽64.0
142.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$1.76₽134
8.52%
Eggs
$3.39€2.89
$1.48₽113
129.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.60
$12.99₽988
41.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€7.99
$4.48₽341
109.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.08
$11.91₽906
58.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.23
$1.90₽144
38.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.04
$2.01₽153
19.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.80
$2.29₽174
-7.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70€2.30
$4.19₽318
-35.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$0.98₽74.6
109.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.52
$0.85₽64.6
109.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$1.64₽125
-10.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.77
$0.74₽56.6
22.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€5.97
$3.13₽238
123.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59€6.46
$6.44₽490
17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.22
$0.87₽66.1
65.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€1.97
$2.34₽178
-0.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.50
$0.49₽37.28
500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38€25.00
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.85
$2.57₽196
76.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.82
$0.47₽35.80
355.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97€24.65
$6.52₽496
344.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$0.80₽60.7
136.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.2K
$38.5K₽2.9M
1.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$36.3K₽2.8M
-10.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$153₽11.6K
23.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24€18.92
$7.80₽593
185.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57€31.12
$7.77₽591
370.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.38
$35.21₽2,678
64.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30€18.13
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01€9.37
$6.37₽485
72.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€622
$329₽25.0K
122.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.6K
$7,016₽533.6K
111.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3€76.0
$88.0₽6,695
1.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38€31.81
$52.7₽4,008
-29.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.0
$134₽10.2K
-21.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.0
$165₽12.5K
-29.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,320
$441₽33.5K
251.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,035
$301₽22.9K
303.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799€2,382
$761₽57.9K
267.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$510₽38.8K
293.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161€6,094
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021€4,273
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462€2,095
$1,182₽89.9K
108.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
10.5
-67.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Serpukhov: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $441 in Serpukhov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 108% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68 in Barcelona vs $57 in Serpukhov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $225 per month, with Serpukhov cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Serpukhov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Barcelona and Serpukhov differ by about 106% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $1,146 including rent). Serpukhov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Serpukhov?
Barcelona pays 108% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $441 in Serpukhov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $329 in Serpukhov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Serpukhov – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,146 in Serpukhov versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Serpukhov but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Serpukhov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Serpukhov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Serpukhov are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Serpukhov?
Expats usually find Serpukhov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 106% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.